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23 or punishing a breach of it so clearly pointed out by law as to require no additional observations. 3. The third measure proper to be adopted with a view to ensure the continuance of peace is the distribution of presents to the Indians. Those moral considerations, which in the relative situation of the Indians and of the United States render it a duty for us to distribute presents to them have been already introduced. Super added to these considerations are motives of policy, which it is necessary now to examine. 1 Whatever has a tendency to conciliate the minds of the Indians and to render less unpleasant those obnoxious circumstances in our intercourse with them, which cannot be removed will have a powerful effect in continuing our existing relations with them; The importance of presents in this point of view is too striking to require any particular illustration. Moral duties as such carrying with them no obligation and paper barriers in the form of treaties being utterly insufficient to restrain them we can address ourselves to their hopes or their fears only, with any reasonable expectation of a favourable result. To depend upon the latter, and to employ force to effect what can be obtained with greater certainty. Celerity and economy by other means, would be equally impolitick and invidious. 2. The distribution of presents by us becomes necessary because it is resorted to by the British Government